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| Artists | |
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| Other | |
| Margaret Smith | |
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| Born | 1956 (age 68–69) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Medium | Stand-up comedy, writing, television, film |
| Nationality | American |
| Awards | |
Margaret Smith is an American six-time Emmy Award-winning stand-up comedian, actress, writer and producer. Originally from Chicago, Illinois, Smith is known for her deadpan and often acerbic delivery, reminiscent of Eve Arden. She was a writer and producer for The Ellen DeGeneres Show . Smith lives in Austin, Texas, with her two sons.
The second youngest of six children, Smith was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1956 and grew up there for several years before her family relocated to Florida; there she was raised by her mother and stepfather. [1] Smith has been open about growing up in a "dysfunctional family", often using this as the basis for material in her stand-up comedy. [2]
Smith currently lives in Austin, Texas, with her two sons. She has written at length about her unsuccessful attempts with in vitro fertilization for several years before turning to adoption. [1] The story of her becoming a mother is what inspired her first publication: an autobiography about her childhood with her mother and subsequently becoming a mother herself.
Smith has also used her experiences with and support of therapy for her stand-up and book. [1]
Smith studied improvisational comedy at Second City in Chicago during the late 1970s. After moving to New York City, she found there was no market for improv, [3] and as a result she began performing stand-up in the early 1980s. After overcoming initial stage fright, she still faced a significant struggle as a woman in stand-up comedy. [4] Her biggest break came in 1984 when she was invited to perform on Late Night with David Letterman ; she would be invited back an additional six times. [3] She was offered small movie roles, as well as a position opening for George Carlin on tour. [5] Despite these successes, she was still described in papers as an "up and coming comedian" as late as 1988. [6] Her performances into the early 1990s were given more weight, and she was a nominee for Comedian of the Year at the American Comedy Awards. [7]
She has toured the comedy circuit throughout the United States and appeared in Amsterdam, Australia, Ireland and London. She appeared twice at Montreal's Just for Laughs festival.
Smith has produced and starred in her own independent projects, including her CD, As It Should Be. Released in August 2000, it carries a liner note endorsement from Jay Leno: "The best comedians are the ones that write and perform their own material, and Margaret Smith is at the top of that list".
She played Margaret the record store owner in That '80s Show . Her television and film credits include roles in Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas , the remake of The Blob , and the Wachowskis' thriller Bound with Gina Gershon and Jennifer Tilly. She made a guest-star appearance in the Pamela Anderson series VIP .
Smith starred in a special for Comedy Central. Her other television credits include appearances on CNN, PBS, HBO, Fox Network, Showtime, E! Network, and VH-1. She appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, as well as Late Night with David Letterman .
Smith is most widely known for her frowning, deadpan delivery and low energy performances. Despite this being somewhat of a trademark of her performances, it did not resonate with some critics, who frequently remarked that she seemed bored. [8]
The topics of her comedy have included hating her parents, having a serial divorcee sister, and her experiences in therapy. Her family were her main focus for many years, and Smith attributed to her mother the quote "If you can't say anything nice, become a comedian". [9] Despite this, she always maintained that her comedy would not become mean-spirited; she took a stance to never "gay-bash or woman-bash", in her own words, and sometimes confronted her opening acts if they crossed this line. [10]
Her first book, What Was I Thinking? How Being a Stand Up Did Nothing to Prepare Me to Become a Single Mother, was published in 2008 by Crossroad Publishing. A reviewer at Book Apex commented:
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Unholy Rollers | Avenger | |
| 1986 | New Wave Comedy | Self | Documentary |
| 1987 | Norman's Corner | Lucy | TV Movie |
| 1988 | The Blob | Nurse | |
| 1989 | Jackée | Margaret Kemp | TV Movie |
| 1990 | Goodfellas | School Guard | |
| 1996 | Larger Than Life | Colorado State Police Officer | |
| 1996 | Bound | Woman Cop | |
| 2000 | Rugrats in Paris | Stewardess (Voice) | |
| 2011 | Five | Summer | TV Movie |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | American Playhouse | Club El Guacho Patron | |
| 1987 | Comedy Club | Self | |
| 1987 | The 11th Annual Young Comedians | Self | |
| 1989 | 227 | Margaret Kemp | |
| 1992 | The A-List | Self | Episode: #1.15 Episode: #1.59 |
| 1992-1994 | An Evening at the Improv | Self | Episode: #9.18 Episode: #12.2 Episode: #15.25 |
| 1992-1998 | The Tonight Show with Jay Leno | Self | Episode: #1.98 Episode: #1.101 Episode: #2.25 Episode: #6.59 |
| 1995-1999 | Late Night with Conan O'Brien | Self | Episode: "Al Roker/Kevin McDonald/Margaret Smith" Episode: "Fabio/Margaret Smith/Ming-Na Wen" Episode "John Leguizamo/Tom Green/Margaret Smith" |
| 1995 | Bob Hope's Young Comedians | Self | TV Special |
| 1996 | The Rosie O'Donnell Show | Self | Episode: October 8, 1996 |
| 1997 | Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist | Margaret / Writer | Episode: "Mourning Person" |
| 1998 | The Roseanne Show | Woman in Audience (Uncredited) | Episode: #1.6 |
| 1998 | The Roseanne Show | Writer | Episode: #1.33 |
| 1998 | Make Me Laugh | Self | Episode: "Alex, Jonathan, Zakia" |
| 1999 | Comedy Central Presents | Self (Comedian) / Writer | Episode: "Margaret Smith" |
| 2000 | The Panel | Self | Episode #3.5 |
| 2000 | The Big Schmooze | Self | Episode #1.2 |
| 2001 | Rocket Power | Delivery Woman (Voice) | Episode: "Losers Weepers/Reggie the Movie" |
| 2002 | V.I.P. | Besty Goldman | Episode: "True Val Story" |
| 2002 | That '80s Show | Margaret | Episode: "Pilot" Episode: "Valentine's Day" Episode: "Tuesday Comes Over" Episode: "Corey's Remix" Episode: "My Dead Friend" Episode: "Spring Break '84" Episode: "Katie's Birthday" Episode: "After the Kiss" Episode: "Double Date" Episode: "Punk Club" Episode: "Road Trip" Episode: "Beach Party" Episode: "Sophia's Depressed" |
| 2006-2007 | The Ellen DeGeneres Show | Writer / Producer | Episode: October 16, 2006 Episode: January 5, 2007 Episode: February 1, 2007 Episode: May 14, 2007 |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | As It Should Be | Self | Audio CD |
| Year | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Funniest Female Stand Up Comedian | Won |
| Year | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Outstanding Talk Show | The Ellen DeGeneres Show | Won |
| 2005 | Outstanding Special Class Writing | The Ellen DeGeneres Show | Won |
| 2006 | Outstanding Talk Show | The Ellen DeGeneres Show | Won |
| 2006 | Outstanding Special Class Writing | The Ellen DeGeneres Show | Won |
| 2007 | Outstanding Talk Show | The Ellen DeGeneres Show | Won |
| 2007 | Outstanding Special Class Writing | The Ellen DeGeneres Show | Won |
| 2008 | Outstanding Talk Show / Entertainment | The Ellen DeGeneres Show | Nominated |
| 2008 | Outstanding Special Class Writing | The Ellen DeGeneres Show | Nominated |
| Artists | |
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| Other | |
